The latest poll defies some of the prevailing theory on marijuana legalization, in that so many respondents were undecided.

Legalization advocates have said before that public opinion on marijuana is, in general, both static and divisive. People generally have an opinion on it, either yes or no, when asked. Yes, public campaigns can change those opinions, but by and large people have made up their minds. One marijuana legalizer was pessimistic about Prop. 19's chances a few months ago, given that Field had shown it polling behind. If it's starting out behind, not much can really be done to change that, the logic went.

So here's where polling on marijuana legalization stands: the poll with the largest sample sizes, the only poll to use live interviews, showed legalization trailing earlier this summer. Public Policy Polling's automated survey, with a smaller sample size, shows it ahead. PPP has had a decent track record in predicting primary races this year, even though the broader community of pollsters and journalists tends to be skeptical of automated polls.

Prop. 19 still faces an uphill climb, as elections go, with an older, more politically engaged electorate expected to turn out in November. But the latest signs point both to a flexible electorate and a viable chance at winning, so there appears to be a solid chance pot will be legal in California come November 3.

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Chris Good is a political reporter for ABC News. He was previously an associate editor at The Atlantic and a reporter for The Hill.